Servants and stewards
ByProverbs 29.19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond.
It is important to understand the difference between a servant and a steward. Just one of the differences has to do with how you motivate them.
A servant only responds to reward and punishment and even though he understands what is required he will only respond with minimum effort.
Servants do just enough to keep their overseers or partners etc happy.
Stewards on the other hand have caught the same spirit as their leaders or partners and respond with a magnificent obsession to the cause they share.
Servants commit to a role – stewards commit to a cause and will do any role.
In fact stewards need very few words to motivate them as they seek to intuitively know what their leaders or partners want. Servants understand the need but consider whether it is in their role at that time – stewards however see the need and immediately respond for the sake of the cause.
David saw Goliath and immediately said – is there not a cause. His brothers were servants of Saul and daily fulfilled their roles but the job did not get done.
The woman with the Alabaster box of perfume washed and anointed the feet of Jesus because no one present considered it their role to wash his feet. She was a steward because she not only completed the role but did so with a magnificent obsession.
ME or MO. Minimum effort or Magnificent obsession for the Body of Christ. Check out your service to the Body of Christ and you will soon know whether you have a servant or steward spirit. SJP
